History Presentation

     I have been asked to present a little history to you today.  I am not sure just what you would be interested in, but I'll start with a little history of my own.

     Fifty one years ago this year I was baptised, received my first communion, made my first confession, was confirmed and married in just slightly less than three months.  Five sacraments of the Catholic Church in a very short time.    

     I came to Green Lake passing myself off as a loyal Catholic bride, but I knew very little about the Catholic faith or even about Catholic people.  I wanted to learn more.  I asked questions, but there were only two answers that I seemed to get.  One was, "I don't know" and the other was, "How come they let you in the Church if you don't know that?"  I quit asking questions and bungled my way.  Many times I was an embarrassment to my mother-in-law.

     How many remember Maggie Shikoski?  She used to make coffee for all the different church functions.  She made it strong and hot.  I used to sneak cold water into my cup.  She was very agitated when she caught me doing it.

     She served as sacristan for Fr. Steve, Fr. Roger and Fr. Karwata.  She had special faculties given by the bishop to wash purificators and handle things that had come in contact with the Blessed Sacrament.  In those days before Vatican II, the Blessed Sacrament was kept very much more remote from us than It is now.  Katherine Jankowski and Mary Fenske helped care for the other linens and vestments.

     Maggie was many things to the church.  Do you remember what else she used to do?

     She prayed.  She was a fan of the rosary.  She knew everything that happened and helped wherever she could.

     One wintry day the sidewalk leading to the old church was icy.  The priest took ashes from the furnace and sprinkled them on the ice so no one would fall down.  Well, some ashes got tracked into the church.  Maggie, single handedly, cleaned up all the ashes and got sand to use on the ice.  Tracked in sand was easier for her to clean up than ashes.

     The old church stood where the steeple now stands.  Besides the church building there was a wide shed open on the south where the old timers sheltered horses during mass.  As far as I recall it was located immediately behind where the present rectory stands.  By the time I came along most parishioners had cars, some farmers drove trucks to church.  No one came to church with horses anymore but the shed still stood.

     The church and the open shed were the only buildings.  There was no parish hall, no basement under the church and no rectory.  It was served mostly by Capuchin fathers who came from Mount Calvary, east of Fond du Lac.  If they needed housing accommodations they stayed with one of the parish's Catholic families.

     The Altar Society was organized in 1937.  As the church had no place to meet and socialize, the Society members met in the private homes of whoever was willing to invite them.

     For the first money making project I remember, the ladies cut out little five inch aprons and sewed a big pocket on them.  Each pocket had a note directing the receiver to measure her waist and for every inch measured put a cent into the pocket, and then return the apron to the Altar Society.  An apron was given to each lady who was a member of the church.  Mrs. Lillian Leigh and Mrs. Jess West came out to the farm to bring me one.  I happened to be in the last months before my twins were born.  These two ladies took one look at my waist and told me I didn't have to put that much money in the pocket.

     Some of you younger ones might wonder about putting in only a penny for each inch, but in those days 25 cents was the price of admission to a card party.  For 25 cents you got several hours entertainment, plus a nice lunch, plus a good chance to win one of the prizes, and the parties still made money for the church.  Like the Altar Society the card parties were also held in private homes.

     For years the Capuchin fathers from Mount Calvary administered the sacraments in Our Lady of the Lake.  In 1945 Fr. Stephen Szczerbiak was assigned as a residential pastor.  With no rectory Father had no where to live.  Temporary inconvenient housing was rented until a rectory could be built.  Daniel Jankowski and Delbert Formiller were trustees.  The present rectory was built complete with a full basement planned to be used as a parish hall.  Kitchen facilities--sink, stove and later a refrigerator--were installed in the basement.

     On April 2, 1951, Fr. Steve began his eternal rest, very shortly after the rectory had been completed.  Fr. Roger Idzkowski was assigned to the parish and moved into the rectory.  The basement was used for all kinds of meetings, not only for the Altar Society, but for The Holy Name Society and The Discussion Club which were formed.  Who can name other activities which took place there?  Catechism classes, Chi Rho Club for high schoolers, card parties, children's Christmas & Halloween parties, poultry bazaars, dartboard and table tennis for high schoolers, start of a parish library, bake sales, turkey raffles, funeral dinners, cake walk, box lunch.

     Connie Naparalla organized a choir and played the organ for it.  Members included Helen Fuller, Harriette Egbert, Alfred and Angie Mildrebrandt, Marcella Brightman, Mary Fenske, Florence Toman, Arthur Egbert, Ann Fuller, and Janet Mildebrandt.

     In order to better organize and keep church records and to have a more pleasant place to consult parishioners, Fr. Roger had a windowed porch-like office added to the front of the rectory.  This is no longer used as an office.  A much needed parking lot was built east of the rectory (where our present church is built).

     In June, 1956, the bishop transferred Fr. Roger to the parishes of Markesan and Kingston; Fr. Francis S. Karwata was transferred to Our Lady of the Lake.

     Children's catechism was taught in the rectory basement by the Berlin based Sisters of Notre Dame on Saturday mornings.  Saturday morning was always a rush time for me, driving the children to catechism, cooking dinner, getting ready for Sunday, picking up the children etc.  One Saturday morning I was running late.  If I cleaned up and changed my clothes before I took the children, they would be late, so I jumped in the car just as I was.  I wanted something from the grocery store.  After leaving the children at church the town seemed very quiet, no one was around and I thought I could run in the store and run out without anyone but the clerk seeing me.  I almost made it, but as I was paying for my purchase who should come into the store but the church Trustee, Connie Naparalla, with the new priest, Fr. Karwata, whom he was introducing to anyone and everyone.  I thought, "Oh no!  Oh well he is so new, he can't remember everyone he meets.  He won't remember it was me who looked this dirty and disheveled."  But the new priest said, "Oh, I know who you are.  You're Maggie Shikoski's daughter-in-law."  So much for evading a bad first impression!

     Fr. Karwata conducted a Catholic census, visiting all the parish homes and blessing them.  He came to the farm early one day.  I had just gotten our bed made and was thankful I had that much done, for he went through rooms sprinkling them with Holy Water.  Afterward Maggie asked me what I had given him.  At first I didn't even know what she was talking about.  No one had told me that it was customary to give the priest a stipend for coming to bless a home. Chalk up another embarrassment for my dear mother-in-law.

     The parish began publishing the weekly parish bulletin on Palm Sunday, 1957.  The outsides of the church and rectory were painted.  It was at this time that the shingles of the steeple were first painted white.  In 1923 they had been painted moss-green, but time had weathered them to gray.  Since then they have been kept white.  The church itself which had been painted gray in 1923, was also painted white in 1957.

     1958 was a banner year.  In June Fr. Karwata celebrated his 40th year in the priesthood.  In August the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of the Lake Church was celebrated.  Bishop O'Connor celebrated the 11:00 o'clock Solumn Jubilee Mass.  Afterwards a 1:00 o'clock dinner was held in the high school gymnasium.  Fr. Karwata was toastmaster.  Speakers included Bishop O'Connor, George O'Callaghan (summer resident), Herman Busse (charter member), and Francis Ptacek (treasurer trustee).

     In his talk Bishop O'Connor urged the parishioners to build a new church big enough to serve the summer visitors as well as the local growing population.  He had already given his permission to buy property for expansion, and a building fund was already started.

     In Oct. 1959 after suffering greatly with cancer, Fr. Karwata began his eternal life.  In Jan. 1960 Fr. Carl Wagner was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake Parish.

     The building of the new church on the parking lot east of the rectory began in earnest.

     Fr. Wagner was general contractor, carpenter and mason.  Parishioners were urged to contribute their time and skills as well as money.  There are quite a few pictures of the building the church in one of the albums displayed.

     The original interior of the new church was quite different than it is now.  The pews all faced west with a wide center aisle and two side aisles along the walls.  The interior walls were cement block simply sealed and painted.  The steel trusses were exposed.  The west end had a large sanctuary separated from the main part with a communion rail.  Left of the sanctuary was a large sacristy, and on the right of it a choir loft.  Connie Naparalla continued to be the organist, and directed the faithful choir.

     Soon after Fr. Wagner came the parish acquired Mrs. Marshall's Jam Kitchen (commonly called the pickle factory).  It was located where the present north parking lot is now.

     While the church was being built the Pickle factory kitchen was used during a summer bazaar.  Tables were set up on the cement subfloor.  There was no roof but the trusses were in place and a canvas was spread over them for protection in case of rain.

     Catechism classes were held in the Pickle factory and the parish library books were taken from the rectory basement to the Pickle Factory.

     Fr. Wagner commissioned a large crucifix which was carved by a German displaced person.  It was hung above the main altar.  It is now hanging in a classroom.

     Statues from the old church were transferred to the new one, with the Blessed Virgin placed above the altar on the left side, and St. Joseph placed above the altar on the right.  The sacred Heart and St. Therese statues were placed on shelves built on either side of a large window gracing the east wall.

     The Station of the Cross statues were brought into the new church and hung half on the south wall and half on the north wall.  The elaborate shelves supporting them in the old church were discarded and replaced with iron supports fashioned by Mike Marshall, Princeton's blacksmith.  The celtic crosses hanging behind the statues were brought over and continued to be displayed in the new church.

     On Easter Sunday, 1961, the first mass was celebrated in the new church.

     On June 4, 1961, a double celebration was held.  Fr. Wagner celebrated his Silver Jubilee of 25 years in the priesthood, and Bishop O'Connor blessed and dedicated the new church to the service of God.

     A new parking lot was paved across Ruth Street, replacing the parking destroyed by building the new church.  The old church became the Parish Hall where catechism, dinners, meetings, socials, etc. were held.

     Bishop O'Connor retired in 1967.  On Feb. 1967 Most Rev. Cletus F. O'Donnel was named the second bishop of Madison Diocese.  According to his request a parish council was formed.  The first council members were Mrs. H. Hudzinski, Howard Dahlke, Mary Jane Breivogel, Conrad Naparalla, Joe Van Rhyn and Norman Priske.

     In June 1976 Fr. Wagner celebrated his 40th anniversary in the priesthood with a gathering at Bel Air.  In June 1978 he retired after serving Our Lady of the Lake parish for over eighteen years.  Fr. Lawrence Clark was assigned as pastor.

     After Fr. Clark came the new church was remodeled.  Insulation and wall board was installed.  The trusses were covered.  Matching wood paneling was installed in the center of the north wall where a raised sanctuary was built, and the altar was moved to its present position.  Pews were arranged in a modified semicircle around it.

     The Stations of the Cross were remounted on the north wall on either side of the altar, but the celtic crosses behind them were not replaced.  The floor was carpeted.

     A large windowed wall was built approximately where the first pews had been.  An adequate Parish Hall and kitchen facilities had long been desired but had not been acquired because of the cost.  The window wall allowed the sanctuary, sacristy, choir room and workroom to be remodeled into the Parish Family Room with the kitchen, a reconciliation room and sacristy.

     Fr. Clark began his eternal life on Sept. 29, 1981, having succumbed to a sudden heart attack.  Nov. 1, 1981 Fr. Leo was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake.

     The pickle factory had become an old dilapidated building.  It was removed to develop more parking space for a growing parish.  The rectory needed extensive work, both the main floor and the basement.  The basement is susceptible to flooding and had received considerable water damage.  It no longer contained kitchen facilities.  Laundry facilities and a storage-workshop area was closed off from the main area, and an office was enclosed where the parish secretary and the Coordinator of Religious Education could work and keep their records.  The main area was refurbished to provide a warm and inviting meeting room.

     During the winter of 1982-83 Al Klaver carefully and artfully moved and installed seven of the stained glass windows from the old church into the new one.

     The large window on the east end of the church was in bad condition, sometimes letting in rain.  This end of the church was remodeled by removing the large window and building an entrance way beyond it.  Two more stained glass windows were installed in the east wall of the church proper and three in the entrance way.

     The original main entrance to this church was bricked up and made into the present chapel.  It also has a stained glass window from the old church.

     Fr. Leo loved flowers.  It had been his long time ambition to create a garden where everyone could go to pray, meditate or just relax.  The Garden of Prayer west of the rectory was his pet project and his gift to us.  The steeple was lifted off the old church by crane and after the old church was dismantled and a new foundation built.  The steeple was placed back very close to the old location of the church.  The corner stone of the old church was installed in the steeple's foundation.

     Another feature of the Garden of Prayer is the statue of the Blessed Virgin.  It is of white marble imported from Italy and was purchased with money from the estate of Katherine Dunn.

     Mike Breister created the wood stations of the cross that follow around the garden.

     In 1987, on Aug. 15, the Feast of Mary's Assumption, the Garden of Prayer and the new east entrance of the church were dedicated to God for His use and glorification.

     These improvements were possible only by the generous contributions of Tom Caestecker and many others who donated money, labor, trees, park benches, plants, paint and flowers.  The committee who guided the restoration and preservation of the steeple, the creating of the Garden of Prayer, the moving of the stained glass windows, and the designing and building of the entrance was composed of Terry Kohlman, chairman, and Fr. Leo, Tom Caestecker, Mike Breister, Ralph Bryant, Sharon Chier, Sylvia Froehlicher, David Jankowski, Albert Klaver, Bernard Larson, Moninne McConnell, Francis Ptacek and Marvin Sonntag.

     The parish was growing.  More members meant more activities, more money collected, more services needed.  The parish council decided we needed a computer to keep membership and financial records so the council could receive more up to date reports.  The rectory basement had been used for counting the collections and keeping records, but continuing water problems made the basement too damp for a computer.  It was decided to install the computer in the church sacristy, and office work moved from the rectory to the church.

     Need for catechism classrooms became very pressing and plans were made to build the addition to the church.  To open the Family Room to the new addition, it was necessary to eliminate the sacristy and reconciliation room.  The present site was provided for them.  The addition was contracted to Cardinal Construction of Fond du Lac.  Albert Klaver Construction Co., Frank Tomaszewski Plumbing and Heating, and Diann Semrow of Distinctively Diann were sub contractors.

     Again the construction was possible because of the contributions of Tom Caestecker and many other people who supported this effort.  The building committee consisted of Bill Boesch, chairman, Tom Caestecker, Al Klaver, Bill Leupold, Terry Kohlman, Diann Semrow, Sharon Chier, Marcie Brightman, Barb Eddy, Rose Roberts, Jane Piernot, Michael Stagg, Shan Kramer, Mary Jo Smith, and Mary Ellen Boesch.

     How many of you take a good look at the stained glass windows?  Each one of the tall ones have their own symbols in the blue circle toward the top.  Most are easily recognized as Christian symbols and their meaning known.  But we have some very interesting ones.

     Many of the founding fathers of the parish were Irish--O'Callaghan, Collins, Kelly, McCarthy.  In the east wall is a window given in memory of John O'Callaghan.  The circle depicts St. Patrick's mitre, the headdress proclaiming him a bishop.  It shows an emerald for the emerald isle of Ireland.  One lappet (flap hanging down from the headdress) has a runic (early Germanic) cross which was widely used across northern Europe during St. Patrick's time as a symbol of union with Rome.  The other lappet has St. Patrick's cross, which like St. Andrew's cross, has the form of an "X" rather than a "plus" shape.  The three leafed design on either side of the mitre symbolizes the Holy Trinity.

     Another interesting window is the one given in memory of Denis McCarthy symbolizing the pope.  The crossed keys are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven given to St. Peter and passed on to his successors.  The tiara or triple crown is a symbol of the pope's sovereign power over the Vatican.  This symbol is very, very little used today.  It was very important in the late 1800s when Italy and other governments tried to take over the Vatican States.  When the old church was built in 1908 and these stained glass windows were ordered, sovereignty of the Vatican was still a great concern.  It is no longer considered so.  In liturgical functions the pope always wears a miter, not the tiara.  Today pictures of the pope show him wearing a miter on his head.